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Population in Costa Rica compared to Zimbabwe: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Costa Rica was 5,129,910 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Costa Rica's population is 5,181,862 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 3.35 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Costa Rica is ranked the 126th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.27% of the world: 0.06% for Costa Rica vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Costa Rica has had an average growth rate of +0.77% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Costa Rica has increased from 4.32M people to 5.18M (19.9% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

Costa Rica vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Costa Rica Zimbabwe
2100 3,804,183 37,483,053
2099 3,842,423 37,412,398
2098 3,880,999 37,328,255
2097 3,919,996 37,235,542
2096 3,959,352 37,142,915
2095 3,999,084 37,032,129
2094 4,039,053 36,912,747
2093 4,079,349 36,810,893
2092 4,119,898 36,688,511
2091 4,160,663 36,567,262
2090 4,201,548 36,425,606
2089 4,242,452 36,280,973
2088 4,283,327 36,141,446
2087 4,324,225 35,977,638
2086 4,364,979 35,808,135
2085 4,405,520 35,637,092
2084 4,445,770 35,456,207
2083 4,485,644 35,268,035
2082 4,525,171 35,078,904
2081 4,564,265 34,873,129
2080 4,602,737 34,658,962
2079 4,640,677 34,439,720
2078 4,677,935 34,217,295
2077 4,714,527 33,982,909
2076 4,750,309 33,739,228
2075 4,785,359 33,495,867
2074 4,819,691 33,244,838
2073 4,853,137 32,978,488
2072 4,885,727 32,706,059
2071 4,917,445 32,445,747
2070 4,948,313 32,181,119
2069 4,978,425 31,906,793
2068 5,007,604 31,631,000
2067 5,035,877 31,345,338
2066 5,063,521 31,062,884
2065 5,090,474 30,766,830
2064 5,116,546 30,479,939
2063 5,141,922 30,176,104
2062 5,166,260 29,867,679
2061 5,189,836 29,557,068
2060 5,212,549 29,252,423
2059 5,234,066 28,945,088
2058 5,254,528 28,631,679
2057 5,273,844 28,307,305
2056 5,292,013 27,990,713
2055 5,308,829 27,658,887
2054 5,324,305 27,331,920
2053 5,338,417 26,986,935
2052 5,350,974 26,643,553
2051 5,361,865 26,287,592
2050 5,371,197 25,934,893
2049 5,378,904 25,585,239
2048 5,385,081 25,228,082
2047 5,389,678 24,874,649
2046 5,392,713 24,513,443
2045 5,394,209 24,147,637
2044 5,394,124 23,783,088
2043 5,392,590 23,401,965
2042 5,389,628 23,035,288
2041 5,385,101 22,647,950
2040 5,379,344 22,273,520
2039 5,372,186 21,902,980
2038 5,363,617 21,530,130
2037 5,353,928 21,159,664
2036 5,343,027 20,791,034
2035 5,330,994 20,413,656
2034 5,317,895 20,048,019
2033 5,303,634 19,676,339
2032 5,288,416 19,311,985
2031 5,272,215 18,959,300
2030 5,255,064 18,613,738
2029 5,236,901 18,270,049
2028 5,217,724 17,933,466
2027 5,197,413 17,600,984
2026 5,176,096 17,273,208
2025 5,153,634 16,949,303
2024 5,129,910 16,634,373
2023 5,105,525 16,340,822
2022 5,081,765 16,069,056
2021 5,059,988 15,797,210
2020 5,034,320 15,526,888
2019 4,999,553 15,271,368
2018 4,957,818 15,034,452
2017 4,913,177 14,812,482
2016 4,866,998 14,600,294
2015 4,818,038 14,399,013
2014 4,767,119 14,207,359
2013 4,716,147 14,013,808
2012 4,663,934 13,817,887
2011 4,609,833 13,595,424
2010 4,555,962 13,356,548
2009 4,499,791 13,142,790
2008 4,440,056 12,959,149
2007 4,380,248 12,804,058
2006 4,321,340 12,636,445
2005 4,261,240 12,483,432
2004 4,200,078 12,365,896
2003 4,138,784 12,232,323
2002 4,075,705 12,087,653
2001 4,008,947 11,971,901
2000 3,937,739 11,892,055
1999 3,862,101 11,783,458
1998 3,782,838 11,594,297
1997 3,701,711 11,369,827
1996 3,619,013 11,158,360
1995 3,535,176 10,974,599
1994 3,451,122 10,873,148
1993 3,367,434 10,860,288
1992 3,284,258 10,702,700
1991 3,202,176 10,404,816
1990 3,121,706 10,137,281
1989 3,043,827 9,864,798
1988 2,968,103 9,583,094
1987 2,892,699 9,284,644
1986 2,817,216 8,982,578
1985 2,741,894 8,686,813
1984 2,667,595 8,391,488
1983 2,595,153 8,098,404
1982 2,524,806 7,796,496
1981 2,456,637 7,498,635
1980 2,390,633 7,041,303
1979 2,326,490 6,647,556
1978 2,264,510 6,543,575
1977 2,205,025 6,449,512
1976 2,147,774 6,287,105
1975 2,092,719 6,098,658
1974 2,039,643 5,908,328
1973 1,988,343 5,720,404
1972 1,938,248 5,542,445
1971 1,888,539 5,374,712
1970 1,838,949 5,215,918
1969 1,789,276 5,058,181
1968 1,739,731 4,900,440
1967 1,689,523 4,748,307
1966 1,638,116 4,601,217
1965 1,586,208 4,458,462
1964 1,533,960 4,320,006
1963 1,481,604 4,185,877
1962 1,429,445 4,055,959
1961 1,377,920 3,930,401
1960 1,327,496 3,809,389

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Costa Rica increased by 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Costa Rica gained 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

Costa Rica was ranked 119th most populous country in 2006 and is 126th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Costa Rica's population will grow by 3.65% to 5,371,197 people and will still be ranked 126th. The population of Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Costa Rica is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 5.39M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Costa Rica Zimbabwe
2100 -1% 0.19%
2099 -0.99% 0.23%
2098 -0.99% 0.25%
2097 -0.99% 0.25%
2096 -0.99% 0.3%
2095 -0.99% 0.32%
2094 -0.99% 0.28%
2093 -0.98% 0.33%
2092 -0.98% 0.33%
2091 -0.97% 0.39%
2090 -0.96% 0.4%
2089 -0.95% 0.39%
2088 -0.95% 0.46%
2087 -0.93% 0.47%
2086 -0.92% 0.48%
2085 -0.91% 0.51%
2084 -0.89% 0.53%
2083 -0.87% 0.54%
2082 -0.86% 0.59%
2081 -0.84% 0.62%
2080 -0.82% 0.64%
2079 -0.8% 0.65%
2078 -0.78% 0.69%
2077 -0.75% 0.72%
2076 -0.73% 0.73%
2075 -0.71% 0.76%
2074 -0.69% 0.81%
2073 -0.67% 0.83%
2072 -0.65% 0.8%
2071 -0.62% 0.82%
2070 -0.6% 0.86%
2069 -0.58% 0.87%
2068 -0.56% 0.91%
2067 -0.55% 0.91%
2066 -0.53% 0.96%
2065 -0.51% 0.94%
2064 -0.49% 1.01%
2063 -0.47% 1.03%
2062 -0.45% 1.05%
2061 -0.44% 1.04%
2060 -0.41% 1.06%
2059 -0.39% 1.09%
2058 -0.37% 1.15%
2057 -0.34% 1.13%
2056 -0.32% 1.2%
2055 -0.29% 1.2%
2054 -0.26% 1.28%
2053 -0.23% 1.29%
2052 -0.2% 1.35%
2051 -0.17% 1.36%
2050 -0.14% 1.37%
2049 -0.11% 1.42%
2048 -0.09% 1.42%
2047 -0.06% 1.47%
2046 -0.03% 1.51%
2045 0.002% 1.53%
2044 0.03% 1.63%
2043 0.05% 1.59%
2042 0.08% 1.71%
2041 0.11% 1.68%
2040 0.13% 1.69%
2039 0.16% 1.73%
2038 0.18% 1.75%
2037 0.2% 1.77%
2036 0.23% 1.85%
2035 0.25% 1.82%
2034 0.27% 1.89%
2033 0.29% 1.89%
2032 0.31% 1.86%
2031 0.33% 1.86%
2030 0.35% 1.88%
2029 0.37% 1.88%
2028 0.39% 1.89%
2027 0.41% 1.9%
2026 0.44% 1.91%
2025 0.46% 1.89%
2024 0.48% 1.8%
2023 0.47% 1.69%
2022 0.43% 1.72%
2021 0.51% 1.74%
2020 0.7% 1.67%
2019 0.84% 1.58%
2018 0.91% 1.5%
2017 0.95% 1.45%
2016 1.02% 1.4%
2015 1.07% 1.35%
2014 1.08% 1.38%
2013 1.12% 1.42%
2012 1.17% 1.64%
2011 1.18% 1.79%
2010 1.25% 1.63%
2009 1.35% 1.42%
2008 1.37% 1.21%
2007 1.36% 1.33%
2006 1.41% 1.23%
2005 1.46% 0.95%
2004 1.48% 1.09%
2003 1.55% 1.2%
2002 1.67% 0.97%
2001 1.81% 0.67%
2000 1.96% 0.92%
1999 2.1% 1.63%
1998 2.19% 1.97%
1997 2.29% 1.9%
1996 2.37% 1.67%
1995 2.44% 0.93%
1994 2.49% 0.12%
1993 2.53% 1.47%
1992 2.56% 2.86%
1991 2.58% 2.64%
1990 2.56% 2.76%
1989 2.55% 2.94%
1988 2.61% 3.21%
1987 2.68% 3.36%
1986 2.75% 3.4%
1985 2.79% 3.52%
1984 2.79% 3.62%
1983 2.79% 3.87%
1982 2.77% 3.97%
1981 2.76% 6.49%
1980 2.76% 5.92%
1979 2.74% 1.59%
1978 2.7% 1.46%
1977 2.67% 2.58%
1976 2.63% 3.09%
1975 2.6% 3.22%
1974 2.58% 3.29%
1973 2.58% 3.21%
1972 2.63% 3.12%
1971 2.7% 3.04%
1970 2.78% 3.12%
1969 2.85% 3.22%
1968 2.97% 3.2%
1967 3.14% 3.2%
1966 3.27% 3.2%
1965 3.41% 3.2%
1964 3.53% 3.2%
1963 3.65% 3.2%
1962 3.74% 3.19%
1961 3.8% 3.18%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Costa Rica grew by 0.48%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Costa Rica Zimbabwe
Current population
5181862
17361868
Population rank 126/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.21%
One net population change
21.6 minutes
1.79 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
18.9 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +67 +804
Annual growth/decline +24,385 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +0.48% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 138/197 60/197
One migration net change every
8.78 hours
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change +1,000 -54,555
Net migration rank 63/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 628,404 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 75/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 55/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Costa Rica Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,000 - -54,555
2024 - 967 - -60,528
2023 24,109 995 372,505 -97,380
2022 21,409 1,006 371,243 -102,828
2021 20,119 1,018 349,908 -74,623
2020 29,164 1,029 354,790 -89,440
2019 37,682 1,653 348,798 -103,107
2018 42,469 1,673 345,883 -117,758
2017 43,471 1,671 344,035 -128,241
2016 45,565 1,649 348,772 -140,181
2015 49,077 1,617 356,203 -162,220
2014 49,559 1,589 366,350 -177,029
2013 49,227 1,579 374,757 -176,972
2012 52,036 1,587 371,135 -177,061
2011 52,884 1,695 359,572 -108,714
2010 50,803 2,357 335,570 -108,671
2009 55,757 3,432 309,316 -108,689
2008 56,491 3,794 280,527 -113,858
2007 55,244 4,080 261,805 -118,299
2006 54,177 4,321 248,963 -57,257
2005 57,139 4,567 248,545 -134,212
2004 55,769 4,856 248,307 -127,550
2003 56,743 5,216 243,057 -96,667
2002 58,388 5,812 244,170 -101,212
2001 62,199 7,119 227,909 -139,361
2000 64,268 8,826 236,343 -165,181
1999 64,922 13,253 232,393 -86,343
1998 64,788 15,556 225,614 6,645
1997 64,954 16,954 216,288 395
1996 66,094 17,393 205,269 978
1995 67,585 16,609 206,695 -45,428
1994 68,336 15,587 216,343 -174,723
1993 69,016 14,431 228,045 -243,947
1992 69,830 13,069 255,291 75,788
1991 70,506 10,757 260,943 3,749
1990 71,727 7,949 265,444 4,948
1989 72,327 3,758 270,838 3,736
1988 72,944 2,414 277,498 11,327
1987 73,188 2,267 286,766 21,308
1986 73,211 2,302 289,894 6,154
1985 72,776 2,357 290,756 4,718
1984 71,062 2,402 290,052 5,124
1983 68,972 2,449 286,545 4,456
1982 66,826 2,453 279,934 32,899
1981 64,632 2,431 271,361 11,523
1980 62,561 2,387 241,179 390,593
1979 60,984 2,349 223,657 -67,937
1978 58,327 2,296 222,979 -170,727
1977 56,122 2,228 225,139 -89,270
1976 54,019 2,129 221,419 -32,495
1975 51,979 1,992 216,947 -28,988
1974 50,349 1,839 208,806 -16,105
1973 48,943 1,468 201,885 -18,733
1972 48,417 1,366 193,725 -20,959
1971 48,341 1,296 185,427 -22,719
1970 48,398 1,137 178,979 -24,102
1969 48,790 1,017 172,626 -12,028
1968 48,361 939 166,865 -11,997
1967 50,193 926 161,205 -11,814
1966 50,755 930 156,014 -11,211
1965 51,196 932 151,164 -10,465
1964 51,435 934 145,848 -9,631
1963 51,403 938 140,984 -8,936
1962 51,046 934 136,317 -8,529
1961 50,149 924 131,531 -8,204
1960 48,857 910 126,959 -8,260

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/zimbabwe | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 96.3% of the population change in Costa Rica is from natural causes (a gain of 362,624 people) and 3.69% is from migration (a gain of 13,900 people). In Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 people).

As of 2024, 628,404 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Costa Rica, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

Biggest cities by population

Costa Rica
City Population
San Jose 335K
Limon 71.5K
Liberia 65.9K
Alajuela 44.4K
Puntarenas 41.5K
Cartago 22.8K
Heredia 16.7K
Tamarindo 7.13K
Santa Teresa 3K
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/costa-rica/zimbabwe | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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